In the Secret of His Presence

Words: Ellen Lakshmi Goreh (b. Sept. 11, 1853; d. _____, 1937)
Music: George Coles Stebbins (b. Feb. 26, 1846; d. Oct. 6, 1945)

Note: This beautiful hymn of testimony was written in 1883. Miss Goreh entitled it, “My Refuge.” The story of its author is told in the Wordwise link, and on the Cyber Hymnal too. She carried on a correspondence with another hymn writer, Frances Havergal, who was able to be a great encouragement to her. Some of their letters are included in the preface to Ellen Goreh’s book, From India’s Coral Strand: Hymns of the Christian Faith. (The first part of the title is a line from Reginald Heber’s missionary hymn From Greenland’s Icy Mountains.)

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

T he theme of the hymn is based on Psalm 31:20, a text that is printed above the lines of verse in the author’s book. There David says:

“You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues [“accusing tongues,” NIV]”

Ps. 31:20

The “secret place” (cether in Hebrew) represents a refuge, a place of shelter and protection. It is “secret” in the sense that the one who is there is concealed, preventing the enemy from discovering him or her. The expression is used several times in the Word of God.

“You are my hiding place [cether]; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah [Think of that!]”

Ps. 32:7

“He who dwells in the secret place [cether] of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust’”

Ps. 91:1-2

“You are my hiding place [cether] and my shield; I hope in Your word”

Ps. 119:114

In some places in the Word of God, the word “presence” is capitalized (NKJV) and treated as a representing God Himself–as when the Lord says to Moses, “My Presence will go with you” (Exod. 33:14). It is a way of the Lord saying, “I will go with you.” In the original printing of her hymn, Miss Goreh has capitalized “His Presence” to indicate a reverence for God.

(1) In the secret of His Presence how my soul delights to hide!
Oh, how precious are the lessons which I learn at Jesus’ side!
Earthly cares can never vex me, neither trials lay me low;
For when Satan comes to tempt me, to the secret place I go.

(2) When my soul is faint and thirsty, ’neath the shadow of His wing
There is cool and pleasant shelter, and a fresh and crystal spring;
And my Saviour rests beside me, as we hold communion sweet:
If I tried, I could not utter what He says when thus we meet.

Notice what a positive and pleasant experience is found in close fellowship with the Lord. Words such as delights, precious, pleasant, and sweet all indicate the blessings experienced. There is protection from the cares and trials of life, and from the devil’s attacks. But there is another side to this intimate communion.

Sometimes, the Lord must rebuke us for those things in our lives that are not pleasing to Him. He does this by His convicting Spirit, through the Word. Because the Lord loves us so much, He must administer discipline as a loving parent does. Though it is painful at the time, it has a wise and good purpose in our maturing.

Whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?…Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Heb. 12:6-7, 11

For the Lord to leave sins and carnal attitudes to fester in our hearts would not be loving. “What a false Friend He would be” (3) if that were the case. It is at this point that Helen Goreh includes another stanza not found in the Cyber Hymnal. I’ve added it here, so you can see how it follows through on the theme of the stanza before.

(3) Only this I know: I tell Him all my doubts, my griefs and fears;
Oh, how patiently He listens! and my drooping soul He cheers:
Do you think He ne’er reproves me? What a false Friend He would be,
If He never, never told me of the sins which He must see.

Do you think that I could love Him half so well, or as I ought,
If He did not tell me plainly of each sinful deed and thought?
No, He is very faithful, and that makes me trust Him more:
For I know that He does love me, though He wounds me very sore.

The hymn, as used today, ends with (4), an appeal to us to find that “secret place” for ourselves. And she borrows from the experience of Moses. When he came down from Mount Sinai, having received the Law of Israel from the Lord, his face shone (Exod. 34:29). This was a physical manifestation, and it terrified the people (vs. 30). However, I think what the author has in mind is that our lives should reflect the likeness of Christ (II Cor. 3:18; cf. Acts 4:13).

(4) Would you like to know the sweetness of the secret of the Lord?
Go and hide beneath His shadow: this shall then be your reward;
And whene’er you leave the silence of that happy meeting place,
You must mind and bear the image of the Master in your face.

Questions:

1. What particular blessing have you enjoyed recently, in your fellowship with the Lord?
2. What aspect of “the image of the Master” have you seen in another Christian recently?

Links:

• 11 September 1853 – Ellen Goreh Born
• In the Secret of His Presence (The Cyber Hymnal)